‘Pints for Life’ June 3 walk highlights lifesaving blood donations

Posted
Thursday, May 31, 2012 1:00 pm

Mark Vuono

The Rhode Island Blood Center will host the second annual Pints for Life Walk Sunday, June 3 in downtown Providence.

This year the walk will be in honorary support of Frankie Wainscott, a 20-year-old North Attleboro man recovering from a ruptured aneurysm suffered last December. Blood donations enabled Wainscott to survive the aneurysm, despite the initial belief by doctors that he would not make it. Wainscott is now still dependent on the generosity of donors as he continues his recovery.

Frankie’s mother, June Wainscott, has stayed by her son’s side the entire time in the hospital. She demanded doctors to do everything possible to save him. Many of Frankie’s friends also visited the hospital to give their support. The group, most of whom went to North Attleboro High School and Bristol Community College with Frankie, stayed around the clock with their friend and his mother while he was in a three-week coma.

Now six months later, Frankie is working toward recovery at the Spaulding Rehabilitation Center in Boston. He and his loyal friends have formed Team Frankie to participate in the upcoming Pints for Life Walk. Other local organizations are also showing their support for the blood center by sending teams and pledging donations. Many participants pledge to donate blood over the summer or give money in support of donor education. Summer is a challenging time for blood collection because local high schools and colleges, a large source of blood donation, are not in session. The walk will feature two routes, a 1K and 3K, to accommodate various levels of fitness. Both routes will begin at the Providence Donor Center located at 405 Promenade St. and end on the State House lawn.

Last year, more than 200 participants generated over $22,000 for the Rhode Island Blood Center, despite rainy conditions.

Acting as honorary co-chair of the walk with Frankie is NBC 10’s morning co-host Barbara Morse Silva. She has been a longtime supporter of the Rhode Island blood drive. She annually hosts three media blood drives that collect over 800 pints a year.

The walk begins at 10 a.m. and registration opens at 8:30. For more information on how individuals or organizations may enter the walk, or otherwise contribute, visit the Pints for Life Walk website at www.ribc.org/PintsforLife or call 1-800-283-8385.